Rider: Steve Anthes, Malo, Washington
Age: 68
Occupation: Retired media producer
Current rides: 1982 Honda FT500 Ascot, 1984 Honda Gold Wing GL1200 Standard, 2003 Honda Nighthawk 750
Steve's story: "I'm retired, with a lot of time on my hands and cautious not to drive the wife nuts, so every year I find a project bike on Craigslist and make it my winter project. After seven projects, I thought I was done with this phase of late-life crisis, so after finishing refurbishing and selling a 1971 Bultaco Matador, I started looking for a bike ready to ride. I was thinking of a Kawasaki KLR650, but changed my mind when I saw the headline of an ad for a '1982 Honda Ascot in mint condition.'
"A couple of pictures from 10 feet out looked good to me, and the ad said 'in showroom condition.' Excited, I called the seller, who told me he wasn't into motorcycles and the Ascot had sat for 12 years in his garage. We all know how emotions and motorcycles make for irrational decisions, but I couldn't resist an '82 Ascot with 2,000 miles on the clock. I told the seller I wanted the bike, but I live six hours away. He had other lookers and if I wanted the bike I had to pay him up front. So I did something I've never done when buying a bike... a few clicks of the mouse on PayPal and the bike was mine.
"When I arrived at the seller's, the bike was parked in his driveway. I jumped out of my truck and checked out the bike... that I now owned. The plastic seat cowl was cracked down the middle. 'Hey, that's not mint' I said. 'Oh... didn't I tell you about that?' The tank had some chips, the back brake was locked on and the engine would only idle and died when I gave it throttle. That's not mint! But, I kept thinking: an '82 Ascot with 2,000 miles... you'll never find another. So I loaded her up and headed home.
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I have 2 Honda Ascots. A single and a twin. Both have less than 2, 000 miles , both are black and excellent condition. Larry W. both
What guys will do to get a winter project.. I too was looking for an Ascot winter project and found one on craigslist "complete", "stuck engine". It ticked off all the items on my "why you shouldn't buy it" list - engine wouldn't turn over, rust in gas tank, some pitting on forks, etc. - and i still bought it! It was "complete" as all the parts were there but not all in good shape. But the main thing is it has been a great winter project, budget be damned!
I too was looking for an Ascot winter project and found one on craigslist "complete", "stuck engine". It ticked off all the items on my "why you shouldn't buy it" list - engine wouldn't turn over, rust in gas tank, some pitting on forks, etc. - and i still bought it.. It was "complete" as all the parts were there but not all in good shape. But the main thing is it has been a great winter project, budget be damned!
Mint. That's become a sales pitch term. Still, what a great find in any condition. I don't know what I'd pay, but wow. Now you can make it "mint".
Mint. That has become an sales pitch term. I don't know how much I'd pay, but what a great find in any condition. Congratulations. Now you can make it "mint".
Sound familiar, Steve. One man's 'mint' is another man's mess! I have learned to ask lots of detailed questions and request detailed pictures. I have only paid in full a few times without first seeing a bike, but based on my willingness to impose on the seller for pictures and answers, I have never been burned. I have also passed on a few bikes when it was obvious the seller was unwilling to convince me the bike was as advertised. And then, there are the scammers. You have be diligent.